Strong school-family-community partnerships bring exceptional value to children’s education. A recent book by Karen L. Mapp, a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and four other co-collaborators synthesizes the available research to explain who benefits from these partnerships and the many advantages of family and community engagement. Everyone Wins! The Evidence for Family-School Partnerships & Implications for Practice (Scholastic, 2022) cites various research to demonstrate how family-community-school partnerships benefit all stakeholder groups when they’re app ..read more

School Specialty® and the College Football Playoff Foundation® (CFPF) share a common goal to improve educator resources and provide children with better learning opportunities. Both organizations support this mission through CFPF’s Extra Yard for Teachers® program. Recently, we headed to Haddon Avenue STEAM Academy & Magnet in Pacoima, California with tools and supplies to create a new mariachi room! Learn More: School Specialty and CFP Foundation Makeovers The Haddon Avenue STEAM Academy & Magnet is an ETK-5 elementary school in the Los Angeles Unifi ..read more

In the 18th episode of The Schoolyard Podcast, host Nancy Chung (@fancynancyin5th) speaks with the Top Floor Teachers, Joe McCormick and Quyen Nicol, to discuss the balance between engagement and academic rigor in the classroom. Joe and Quyen, who teach fifth grade in Southern California, share their journey of becoming educators and how they started their Instagram account, @topfloorteachers. Through their social media platforms, they emphasize the importance of hands-on learning and interactive lessons to keep students engaged and absorbing information like sponges. The group discusses inc ..read more

Modern, versatile classroom furniture instills pride and helps improve student outcomes at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center Equipping classrooms and other school spaces with comfortable and flexible furnishings doesn’t just open up new possibilities for instruction. It can also boost the engagement and morale of both students and staff. With the help of grant funding, the St. Ann’s School campus of Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center (SRCC) in Erie, Pennsylvania, furnished nine classrooms, a faculty lounge, a board room, multiple offices, and a library space. Modern new furniture was provided by S ..read more

This month on It’s Time for Science, it’s time to talk about community engagement and citizen scientists! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Mwenda KudumuBiggs from the Fleet Science Center and Emma Giles from SciStarter. Table of Contents Episode Summary Episode Guests Dr. Mwenda KudumuBiggs Emma Giles Contact Us Episode Summary In this episode, Tom speaks with Dr. KudumuBiggs about her position at the Fleet Science Center, why it’s so important to connect people and families to science, and the power of kids seeing their families involved with science. They also discuss why science is at ..read more

One Million Acts of Science for Citizen Science Month Have you ever dreamed of making a great scientific discovery that makes the world a better place? We all grew up learning how scientists throughout history found ways to study and understand everything from the smallest atom to the widest galaxy. The parts that don’t make the history books, however, include many long hours of research, study, and dedication that go into some of the most significant discoveries. Very often, those hours are performed by selfless background researchers who know they may not be written about for their efforts ..read more

Hazleton Area School District Partners with School Specialty® for Design and Furnishing of Flexible Learning Spaces If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that the days of delivering a “one-size-fits-all” education are long gone. Every child has unique learning needs, and modern learning environments must be flexible and adaptable enough to support these various academic and social-emotional requirements. “These days, we have to offer many different options to meet the needs of our students,” says Dr. Patrick Patte, Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools for the Hazleton Area ..read more

In the 17th episode of the Schoolyard Podcast, host Nancy Chung and special guest Emily Anderson Karst delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. Emily, known as @joyfulnoiseteaching on Instagram, shares her insights on integrating AI tools in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning experiences. This episode highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in education. While some educators may fear job displacement or struggle with ethical concerns, Emily emphasizes the importance of embracing AI as a tool to enhance teaching methodologies and foste ..read more

Welcome to the 16th episode of The Schoolyard Podcast! In this episode, we delve into the world of education through the lens of neurodiversity. Our host, Nancy Chung, sits down with Nichole Schlagel-Hope, principal of the Academy of Arts and Knowledge (AAK), to explore the value of neurodiversity in the classroom. Nichole Schlagel-Hope, a seasoned educator with a background in special education, shares her insights on creating inclusive learning environments for neurodivergent students. With a focus on tailoring curriculum enhancements to meet diverse learning needs, Nichole emphasizes the ..read more

This month on It’s Time for Science, it’s time for extended learning! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Bryan Méndez about the upcoming solar eclipse and curriculum specialist Erica Beck Spencer about getting kids outside. Table of Contents Episode Summary Episode Guests Dr. Bryan Méndez Erica Beck Spencer Contact Us Episode Summary Tom talks with Dr. Méndez about what an eclipse actually is, including what to expect from a total solar eclipse, how to look at the eclipse safely, and how to engage your students with this amazing celestial event. A Reminder on Eclipse Safety As Dr. Méndez p ..read more